With
thanks to West Ham United Football Club for permission to use the
photograph.

John Dick
was born the 19th March 1930 in the Govern district of Glasgow, a street
away from the birthplace of Sir Alex Ferguson. He became an apprentice
machine tool operator and was a keen footballer. He was spotted by a
Scottish scout

and was
picked for the Scottish Junior team. He did his National Service in the
Army between 1950 and 1952 at Colchester, Essex, being enlisted into
R.E.M.E. (The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) and was soon
playing football for the Army and Braintree Football Club.

West Ham
United Manager Ted Fenton discovered John whilst in the Army and he was
signed up to play for the Hammers on completion of his Army service, and
he played forward between 1953 and 1962. Some of the younger members of
the team included Bobby Moore, Martin Peters, Geoff Hurst, Johnny Byrne,
John Bond and Kenny Brown. He became the joint-third highest goal scorer
for the team playing 351 games and scoring 166 goals. He was Captain of
the team in about 1960 and was runner up for the Hammer of the year title
1961-2.

John
became the first West Ham player to be picked for Scotland in an
International match against England in 1959. He replaced Dennis Law who
was injured. The England team included Bobby Charlton, and Billy Wright
(gaining his 100th cap). John was number 10 and being a left footer,
played inside left. England were to win the match 1-0.

At a
supporters dance in 1954 he met Sue Culley and they were married in Barking
Abbey Church in 1956 and they set up home in Hainault with their two
daughters Jennifer and Gillian. The WHU team would often be seen training
and running at Hainault Forest and also Grange Farm, Chigwell. As a family
they loved the forest and would often go for picnics accompanied by their
cross Border collie Angus. They loved to visit the ponies, llamas, sheep
and goats and especially the Rabbitry in an old farm building which
displayed many breeds of Rabbits which they could handle and see the young
litters. The grandchildren now visit the Forest.

In 1962
John moved to Brentford at a transfer fee of £17,500 where he played until
1965. He then took up a job with the Inner London Education Authority
ILEA, in Hackney where he taught Football, Hockey and Archery on Hackney
Marshes and Oakfield Playing Fields, Fairlop. Archery was a popular sport
among paraplegics who attended John's classes. John also trained the WHU
colts between 1971-3 on a part-time basis, and was later to coach Santos
F.C.

John took
early retirement in 1992 due to ill health. His heart problem meant that
it was necessary to maintain a walking schedule which he did, often
walking round the lake in Hainault Forest where he made many friends
especially among the Forest Rangers. One particular acquaintance was
Sidney, a Hainault resident for the past 40 years who has fond memories of
John. Sidney was born in Ballyragget, Kilkenny in 1927. The children of the
village walked to school barefoot. Sidney's father worked at Fords of
Dagenham and used to send him sandals but Sidney would hide them in his
school bag as he didn't want to appear different to the other
schoolchildren. He worked for a time for Lord Kildare looking after the
foxhound kennels and stables. Since retiring Sidney has been making daily
visits to the lake in the forest, in all weathers, to feed the ducks,
geese and swans. The swans are his favourite and they take the food from
his hand. Sidney being Irish and John a Scotsman they ribbed each other in
friendly banter. Sidney would ask John what he did with all his money
earned at football. Of course when John played football they were only
paid a living wage and not a super inflated income that today's football
stars receive.

John died
in 2000 and Sue and family had a seat dedicated to his memory by the
Hainault Lake. His ashes were scattered by the seat and a memorial oak
tree planted which would provide shade for visitors. Sadly this tree
was pulled up and a replacement was cut down.